Rector renews call for Fed Govt to take over Abia Poly

The Acting Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Prof Uche Eleazar Ikonne, has renewed the call by the management of the institution for Federal Government to take over ownership of the institution.

Ikonne, who spoke when he led the polytechnic management to the palace of Eze Eberechi Dick, Chairman Abia State Traditional Rulers’ Council, and the home of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, noted that the acquisition of the institution by the Federal Government would lessen “the huge financial burden on the state government”.

He said the state was struggling to fund four tertiary state institutions, namely: Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu, Abia State School Health Technology, Aba and Abia State University, Uturu.

Ikonne regretted that the state was among the few states yet to given a federal recognition.

The rector, who visited the monarch to felicitate with him on his appointment as the Chancellor of the University of Abuja, urged him to use his new position to lobby for the polytechnic to be run by the Federal Government.

He was optimistic that Eze Dick would use his wealth of experience to move the university forward.

At Abaribe’s home, Ikonne also made the same request of the senator, urging him to use his office to get better fortunes for the polytechnic.

Both of them thanked the group for their visit and promised to assist the polytechnic.

Abaribe, who expressed his happiness over the award given to him, also advised the polytechnic to improve on its academic standards and products.

He said he had been aware of the challenges facing the school before their visit, promising to assist them towards being taken over by the Federal Government.